Will giardia go away on its own in dogs?

Can Giardia kill your dog?

Giardia or better known as Giardiasis and it is caused by small, single cell internal parasites in dogs. This illness is also known as ‘Beaver Fever.’

‘Protozoa’ which is a tiny organism affects your dog’s stomach and causes serious health issues.

Dogs of all ages may have this disease, but mostly young puppies, dogs with weak immune systems and senior dogs are prone to get affected by giardia more often.

What are the symptoms of Giardia in dogs?

It is not obvious that dogs will have symptoms of Giardia. ‘Asymptomatic’, is mostly the carrier of this disease which depicts that the symptoms are not shown outward in the initial phase.

After a period the dog will have some digestive problems, lose weight, dry skin, pass pale colored greasy stools, experience dehydration or gets tired soon.

Diarrhea is the most common symptom of giardia in young dogs.

There are more symptoms which occur along with diarrhea; those are the following:-

1. Weight loss
2. Vomiting
3. Fever
4. Dehydration
5. Gastric Problem
6. Loss of appetite
7. Excessive weakness

The most common cause of severe diarrhea in puppy is Canine Parvovirus. This illness can even kill the puppy. If this disease is detected earlier and proper medication is offered then only there are chances that the puppy will survive. It is advised that whenever you notice these symptoms persisting in your dog, immediately consult a vet.

How is Giardia cured in my puppy?

Giardia can be cured in puppies by first getting your pet properly diagnosed by the vet. The vet will take samples from your puppy’s liver and examine the formed cyst because of Giardia. It is also a fact that these cysts are tiny and usually they don’t shed. So there are chances that the disease may not be detected though your puppy might be having this dangerous ailment.

If your puppy is having the appropriate symptoms which indicate Giardia, then your vet may examine your puppy’s stool several times with a gap of few days in each examination.

Nowadays Giardia can also be detected through blood tests which are more accurate than examining stools of dog.

Mostly used medication for curing Giardia nowadays is Metronidazole which is also known as Flagyl and it’s quite beneficial.

If your puppy is not cured by this medicine, then you might be advised by the vet to give Fenbendazole (Panacur) to your pet.

Please remember that if your dog is pregnant then, don’t give Metronidazole to your canine as this medicine causes congenital disabilities to the puppies still in the womb.

These medications cannot cure this disease entirely in your puppy though you may notice that your pet seems to be better health wise.

If your puppy has been treated for this illness and has recovered, please be aware that your puppy might again have this disease so you should visit the vet immediately if you notice the symptoms again.

How can I eliminate these deadly parasites from my home?

It is a huge challenge to eradicate these tiny parasites from your surroundings which cause Giardia.

You can try to clean your floor with beach and water solution with the ratio of 1:10 or even 1:5. Quaternary ammonium disinfectants and Lysol are mostly used as antibacterial cleansers which are utilized by the farmers to control bacteria so if you want you can also use these liquids to keep your home and surrounding floorings clean.

Please take precautions if your puppy or dog is suffering from this disease. Though Giardia disease does not affect the human beings often but still if you or any other family member is having vomiting or diarrhea then immediately consult a doctor.

“Is staph infection in dogs contagious to other dogs?“